THE RED CLAY STRAYS / THE DIP – AT THE AMP IN BRIDGEPORT
By Mia Palazzo
The Red Clay Strays and The Dip at Hartford Healthcare Amphitheatre
I do not think I have ever had such an ecstatic reaction to getting approved for a photo pass as I did for this show. Anyone who knows me knows I do not usually wear my excitement on my face, but the second I got the message that I was approved, I could not stop smiling. That excitement carried with me from the start of the show until the very end.
The night opened with The Dip, a Seattle-based seven-piece band whose sound blends vintage R&B and soul type of band with a fresh and modern touch. Their setlist featured standouts such as “Atlas” and a cover of Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do For Love.” Each song was elevated by the strength of their three-piece horn section and the smooth vocals of frontman Tom Eddy. Eddy’s charisma set the tone for the night, and keyboardist Jace Holmes-Floyd was unforgettable. His skill and energy were a true highlight of the performance.
The Red Clay Strays
Then came The Red Clay Strays, a band I have admired for years but only seen at festivals. I was even at Bonnaroo when they were scheduled but never able to play because the festival was canceled, which was absolutely devastating. Seeing them on a headlining stage, in a sold-out amphitheater in my own state, was more than special. It felt like a long-awaited payoff.
The Red Clay Strays’ sound is hard to define in one word, but what sets them apart is how they merge eras and styles into something that feels both timeless and new. Frontman Brandon Coleman is often compared to Elvis, and it is easy to understand why. His voice carries that same magnetic power, blending old-school rock and roll with country, southern rock, and gospel undertones. Even his presence feels as if it belongs to a different era, but the music itself has its own modern edge that makes it easy for today’s youth to connect.
Their setlist stretched nearly two dozen songs, with moments that swung from explosive energy to deeply soulful emotion. “Ramblin’” and “Stone’s Throw” brought grit and southern fire, while songs like “Forgive” and “Moments” showed their ability to slow down and deliver heartfelt storytelling. After the first three songs of the show, I had to leave briefly to put my camera back in my car (as is policy a lot of the time in these venues), and found myself sprinting back to catch the end of “Do Me Wrong,” one of my favorite songs of all time.
The encore was strong. They covered “Ring of Fire,” paid tribute to faith with “Will The Lord Remember” and “God Does,” and then gave the audience something unforgettable: the live debut of “Fool’s Gold,” written just hours before the show in the backstage area. To witness a brand-new song performed for the first time, in that atmosphere, was a rare and special moment.
What impressed me most was not just their musicianship, but their humility. Between songs, the band shared stories about how hard the pandemic had been for them, when they had to take odd jobs and Uber driving to get by because they could not tour and profit off their music. It was a reminder of how much their success now means, both to them and to their fans.
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